BILL LANKHOF, QMI Agency

The New York Jets signed a key player in their quest for the Super Bowl yesterday. But it wasn't the guy everyone expected.

The Jets agreed to a seven-year, $55 million deal with centre Nick Mangold but the soap opera surrounding Darrelle Revis remains clouded and tinged with drama and innuendo.

There is all type of speculation but precious little confirmation that the cornerback is close to signing. Yesterday there was a late-afternoon report he had agreed to a $150-million deal, including $65 million guaranteed.

Maybe he has; maybe he hasn't. Both the team and Revis' agents have been sticking to a news blackout as the contract dispute spins ever further out of control. His holdout is now at Day 25 and counting and it has resulted in more misinformation than when that Iraqi government official vowed: "Army? What American army? There is no army."

A report out of Dallas, said Revis would report to the Jets Wednesday. He didn't. Then there were reports the Jets' management and Revis' agents were to meet Tuesday night. They didn't.

There was speculation Revis would appear on TV to announce he was coming back. Didn't happen. Then came a revised story that the Jets were going to announce his signing on the HBO program Hard Knocks. And another that said he would report by late this week.

Right. And there really is a tooth fairy.

In other words, despite all the "news" there is no news. There are so many rumors that until the team actually announces they have signed him to a deal it's impossible to believe the tweets. Not that the tweets won't be correct. Revis will sign.

The Jets will cave and meet most of his demands to make him the league's highest-paid cornerback.

They have no choice now; not if they want to back up all that big talk from coach Rex Ryan about going to the Super Bowl. The Jets have taken a now-or-never approach to winning big, and winning NOW! They signed LaDainian Tomlinson, which is definitely a what-can-you-do-for-us-now move. They've added Antonio Cromartie and receivers Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes, all of whom are in the final year of contracts. They are also moving into an expensive new stadium and in the middle of a push to sell personal seat licences. Management needs to create a buzz.

One Jets starter told the New York Post he "would be shocked" if Revis is not in uniform for the Jets' opener.

"I mean, look at the way we've built up this season," the player said. "This is the year. We've put it all on this year, pushed all of our chips to the middle of the table for this season. We're all in."

Jets receiver Laveranues Coles, who faces his former Washington club Friday, on Redskins owner Dan Snyder: "I'm very thankful to Dan Snyder for building my home down in Jacksonville. Maybe I'll put up a picture of him in one of his $80,000 suits or those $50,000 boots he wears."

18 is the new 16

NFL owners have shown overwhelming support for a proposed two extra regular-season games -- but the rich guys did not officially vote on the expansion, league commissioner Roger Goodell said yesterday.

Goodell said the plan to extend the regular season to 18 games from 16 would have to be part of a new collective-bargaining agreement.

The owners have previously stated that an 18-game regular season would include a reduction of pre-season games to two from four.

2012 is eyed as the start date for this mad plan.

"The fans have spoken very clearly -- they want less pre-season and more regular season," Goodell said in Atlanta.

Panic city?

NFL owners have approved the acquisition of the St. Louis Rams by Stan Kroenke. As part of the transaction, Kroenke will have to relinquish ownership of the NBA's Denver Nuggets and the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.

Just what the NHL needs another owner bailing. Or, maybe not. It's believed that the basketball and hockey teams will be "sold" to Kroenke's children.

Quick hits

The Saints are considering placing Darren Sharper on the injured list, keeping him sidelined for at least six weeks. The Browns could be without their best defensive player Shaun Rogers for an equal amount of time and the Packers' Al Harris has still not been able to pass the team's physical ... Bills' 2008 second-round pick James Hardy is in danger of losing his job at wide receiver. Expected to start opposite Lee Evans, he is now sixth on the depth chart and has missed much of pre-season with a foot injury. Buffalo has been impressed by 6-foot-5 former Gator David Nelson at the receiver spot and former Patriot Chad Jackson has looked impressive ... Raiders receiver Chaz Schilens had his knee scoped Tuesday and is out indefinitely ... Browns' Montario Hardesty (knee) returned to practice Wednesday ... Raiders' Darren McFadden (hamstring) likely won't push Mike Bush from the starting tailback role for the season opener but he has returned to practice ... Texans tight end Owen Daniels reports an MRI has shown his surgically repaired knee to be "100% healthy." ... The Redskins will start Willie Parker at running back Friday against the Jets. Clinton Portis, who started the first game is expected to be the starting back on opening day with Larry Johnson and Parker vying for the backup role.